Morning journal and courier., 1887-09-13

amount compared with the other years. In only five years since 1870 has the amount been less.
 table is presented which gives the growth of the school district since 1866. In that year there were 20 school houses, S4 school rooms, 98 teachers and 1, ,263 pupils. For every year thereafter there has been an increase except in 1867 and 1868, when the number of school houses was 19.
 Reference is made to the death of the la- mented Francis E. Harrison, who was for five years an honored member of the board of education and who died on June 22d last.
 MT. Dutton says that since September l,
 1886, twenty-three teachers have resigned their positions. He makes some remarks on the resignation of Professor Bail, who had
 been the efficient instructor and supervisor of drawing in the school for eighteen years, and of the good fortune of the
 board to secure two such experienced teachers and artists to conduct the advanced work in drawing as Prof. F. R. Honey and Miss Irene Wier of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. A complimentary reference is made to T. w. T. Curtis, who resigned as principal of the High school, having filled that position since 1869. He says that the election of J. D. Whitmore to the principalship ensures the continued growth and efficiency of the High school. The other resignations are: Isaac Thomas principal Winchester. Miss Isabella Cromwell. "" High High school. Clara [. Sherman. No Eaton % A, Hattie P. Cowell, No. Wooster. Emma A: Bryant, No: 3 Fair street. Nora H.; Russell, No German English
 Nellie li..J ): R Riggs, Ne; n Dwight; 3 ngdb., ,d Ida E. Eaton, No: Greenwich avenue.
 Aesn AeRs q | fsse Riea Ne oedsT fs Woossv e6Fsss Nellie B. Swain. No. Wooisey Lillian c. Burwell. No. North QuInnipiac street. Emma L. Brown, Kindergarten, Welch.
 Sarah J. Wright, No; 1o Woolsey. l Ida E. Johnson, No. Welch The vacancies have almost invariably ! been filled by promotion. To make good the places of those who have retired and to equip other rooms that have been opened twenty one young teachers have been taken from the t raining schools, the most of whom are do- ing very satisfactory work.
 He says that our schools could never have reached their present high rank had it not
 been for the careful supervision of the prin- cipals of all the school rooms in their subs
 districts. With our present facilities for school work in New Haven there is no ex- cuse for inferior results in any department. Reference is made to large attendance at the High school and of new course in En- glish, covering two years. He adds: "It is to be hoped that the time Is near at hand when more attention can be given to physical training. The boys could receive military drill at small expense, and the girls should spend few moments each day in light gym nastics."
 ''The commercial course is now fairly es- tablished, and the first class will be gradu- ated in April, 1983 It is understood to be the purpose of the board to award suitable diplomas to those who maintain creditable rank in this department"
 A poor showing was made in the actual age being 1S4.1. This is due, he says, very largely to the scarcity of experienced and energetic teachers among those employed. Speaking of physiology and hygiene he says the teachers have been notified to make themselves qualified to give instruction in this branch, in accordance with the act passed by the General Assembly in 1886.
 s'The subject of hygiene has not hitherto,
 either in the school or the home, received the attention it deserves. Our board of health is doing much to impress correct ideas, but among the masses there is comparative ig- norance on this subject. The time is not far distant when some more definite provision will need to be made in our High and Train
 ing schools looking to a more thorough study of all that pertains to the physical we'll
 being"
 He also refers to the progress made in the schools in music under Professor Jepson. He says they are greatly handicapped, because
 out of 236 rooms but 20 are furnished with instruments of any kind, and some of these are the property of the teacher. In 216
 rooms the matter of pitch is mere guess work.
 He suggests that this harm to the young
 voice of getting the pitch too high or low be obviated by furnishing each room with a ehromatic pitch pipe, which cost about s1. 50.
 Not single parent during the past year
 has brought complaint to the office of the
 board concerning the treatment of his chil dren by principals or teachers. This is in striking contrast to what has occurred in former years.
 'I wish to repeat the recommendation
 made last year that industrial training be
 pr ovided for boys in the ungraded schools.
 The report of Truant Officer Sullivan for the year is as follows
 'Number of children returned to school from the street and from their homes, in- cluding those not attending any school, 692.
 ''Number of visits to families having chill dren at school, with reference to their attend
 ance, 1,O81.
 Persistent truants when arrested were
 brought before the honorable City court in Chambers to be admonished. The cautionary advice then given was in every case effective; consequently none have been sent to the Re- form school during the year."